The UAE is expected to attract 9,800 millionaires in 2025.
Great initiatives like golden visas, legal reforms and family offices make UAE one of the favourite places for High Net Worth Individuals.
The most recent Henley & Partners Private Wealth Migration Report predicts that the United Arab Emirates would surpass all other countries as the world’s top destination for high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) by 2025, with a net inflow of 9,800 millionaires.
This figure puts the United Arab Emirates well ahead of its international competitors and highlights its growing reputation as a top location for private wealth, which is fuelled by its alluring lifestyle, business-friendly laws and reforms.
The report’s conclusions are reflected in wealth advisory discussions at UK FTSE-listed company St. James’s Place Middle East. The business stated that “outbound migration from the UK and changing wealth preferences in Asia are fuelling the UAE’s popularity.
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has become a popular destination for ultra-wealthy families, which has added to this momentum. Currently, it has 120 family offices that oversee assets worth $1.2 trillion. Within a single year, the DIFC witnessed a 50% increase in hedge funds, a 51% increase in foundations and a 33% increase in family offices. More than 10,000 funds are marketed worldwide by the 410 asset management companies that operate in the DIFC.
The UAE’s expansion is attributed to its “strategic location, deep capital pools, English common law system and world-class infrastructure,” according to economist Dr. Bhaskar Dasgupta, Chairman of the Apex Boards for the Middle East and India.
A significant differentiator in the area, the twin hubs of DIFC (Dubai) and ADGM (Abu Dhabi) provide international investors with safe common law legal frameworks.
Even the UAE’s 2023 corporate tax debut hasn’t stopped inflows. Instead, FDI has increased and the UAE’s global financial footprint is being expanded by fintech, AI and blockchain-driven projects, as well as 140 double taxation agreements currently in effect.
The UAE’s growth surge has successfully convinced attention of major international companies, such as Goldman Sachs and BlackRock increasing their investments in the region.
Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) is rapidly becoming a rising star but investors’ attention is still mostly focused on Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The Wynn Resort project, which is anticipated to open in 2027 and become the first regulated gaming destination in the region, is boosting investor enthusiasm.
According to Knight Frank, 46% of HNWIs worldwide currently think that RAK is a more desirable place to buy real estate. It rises to 80% for wealthy foreigners living in the United Arab Emirates.
Beyond the conventional hubs, RAK is establishing a niche for capital inflows through lifestyle-driven tourism growth and cost-effective commercial zones like RAKICC and RAKEZ.
The UAE’s constantly changing Golden Visa program is essential to its success. Five new sponsor-free visa categories—ranging from luxury boat owners to healthcare professionals and digital content creators—have been added in just the past nine months.
With AED 208 billion in support, the nation’s Dubai Social Agenda 33 has a long-term perspective by prioritizing social cohesion, family development and generational prosperity in national policy.
165,000 millionaires are anticipated to relocate worldwide in the upcoming year, proving that the migration wave is real. There will be a net loss of 16,500 millionaires in the UK alone. Whereas the United Arab Emirates show a net gain of about 10,000 from leading capitals like London, Mumbai, Moscow and Beijing.
The UAE is changing how the wealthy make plans for the future by combining investor-friendly regulations, strategic reforms, legal certainty and forward-thinking planning
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